“As I’m finishing my whiskey and paying the bill, I realize why people were willing to wait two-plus hours for a table in a city whose food culture is otherwise known mostly for power lunches: Rose’s is a game-changer,” wrote Andrew Knowlton of Bon Appétit about the winning establishment.

“There is a lot that sets it apart, starting with the warm, farmhouse-style dining room, kitchen-counter seating, and atrium glowing with string lights,” Knowlton continues. “There is the knowledgeable and friendly service. And, of course, the eclectic menu: Southern comfort food threaded with globe-trotting ingredients and ideas from Southeast Asia, Mexico, Italy, and France.”

Most of the restaurants that made it onto Bon Appétit’s list focus on American cuisine with some European influence, although two restaurants in Texas, Hot Joy in San Antonio and Thai-Kun in Austin, are experts in Asian cuisine. Most of the restaurants are moderately priced, except for Estela in New York and Tosca Cafe in San Francisco, which are both a bit pricier.